• The application for the first round was made available on May 17, 2021 and will remain open through June 30, 2021 for Round 1.
• There will be at least two additional rounds:
• • Round 2 application will be open July 12 – September 30, 2021
  • Round 3 application will be open October 11 – December 30, 2021
  • If funds remain, additional rounds may occur

For more information on the application, please visit this page.

This grant is not competitive and it is not based on first-come, first-served.  Funds have been allocated for all eligible programs.  Programs may apply in each round or submit an application for their maximum amount in one round, depending on their needs and budget concerns.

This is the First State Financial Number that you should already have if you’ve received Enhanced Reimbursement (ER funds) and your business & tax id numbers have remained the same.

If you can’t locate your number, you should call the Division of Accounting at (302) 672-5000.

You can also use the  Establishing User ID and Password Guide to look up your information.

Any provider who is not in the state procurement payment system must create an account to be paid.

Website for this process can be accessed here.

You will also be automatically directed to this link at the end of the application.

This error means that you currently have an active supplier record with the State of Delaware.

You will need to create a User Account to access your supplier record. Please see the  Establishing User ID and Password Guide. Or you can call the Division of Accounting at (302)-672-5000.

Either of these will help you locate your FSF Number.

Each site (physical location with a childcare license number or provisional designation) is considered a different program. Each license number requires a separate application. Each licensed program may apply for one grant only during Round 1.

• You must be a licensed childcare provider and you must indicate that you are open and available to provide childcare services or closed due public health, financial hardship, or other reasons related to the COVID–19 public health emergency.
• If an eligible provider was shut down during the pandemic, when applying for the grant, they must provide an estimate of the costs to reopen.
• License exempt and Head Start child care programs are not eligible.
• ECAP and Early Head Start Partnership programs are eligible. Additional details are forthcoming.

For more information on eligibility, please visit this page.

• Eligible expenses include:
  • Personnel costs, benefits, premium pay, and recruitment and retention.
    • Supporting the workforce is the recommended priority for spending
  • Rent or mortgage payments, utilities, facilities maintenance and improvements for insurance.
  • PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), cleaning and sanitation supplies and services, or training and professional development related to health and safety practices.
  • Purchases of or updates to equipment and supplies to respond to COVID-19.
  • Goods and services necessary to maintain or resume childcare services.
  • Mental health supports for children and employees.

For more information on eligible expenses, please visit this page.

• Small Family Child Care: $37,500 total across Rounds 1-3
• Large Family Child Care: $37,500 total across Rounds 1-3
• Small Center/School Age Program (capacity 60 or less): $112,500 total across Rounds 1-3
• Large Center/School Age Program (capacity more than 60): $150,000 total across Rounds 1-3

Funds allocated for all eligible programs. Not first come, first served. If funds remain after Rounds 1-3, programs may be eligible to receive an additional amount through Round 4.

For more information on eligibility, please visit this page.

• Providers must expend the funds within 6 months of receiving the funds.

You may request reimbursement and submit documentation for expenses that you’ve already paid.  You may also request funds in advance.  Then, once the funds have been spent, you’d need to submit the documentation showing that the funds were spent according to what was proposed.  In order to request funds in advance, you will need to include documentation, such as a quote from the business you intend to purchase from, if you’re asking for funds for materials not yet purchased or services that have not yet occurred.   Then, you’d need to submit the invoices afterwards to verify payment to the company.  Keep in mind that all funds for round 1 must be spent by December 30, 2021.

If you’re asking for reimbursement for on-going expenses, such as payroll or rent, then you’d need to submit a current bill and the time that has already occurred could be reimbursed.  You would need to make it clear in your request that you’d also like this on-going bill to be paid through whatever date you chose, up  December 30, 2021.  Then, we could use that same bill to continue future payments throughout the appropriate rounds.  You would just need to submit the actual bills within 6 months of receiving the funds for verification.

You can save multiple documents as one pdf and then upload them as one document. There are explanations on our grant webpage, in addition to video tutorials that are coming soon.

Please ensure that your scanned images are legible so there are no delays in the approval process. If receipts are unreadable or obscured in a way that prevents proper review, a Technical Assistant will reach out to the contact listed on your program’s application for further clarification so you can resubmit the necessary documents.

• At the end of the application, you’ll see a message thanking you for taking the time to carefully complete each section of your Delaware Early Education and Child Care Stabilization Fund application. Then you will be redirected to the state procurement payment system form.
  • If you are not already part of the state system, you will need to complete that form in order to receive payment.
  • If you already have an FSF number, you may then close your browser; you do not need to complete the form if you have a  valid FSF number.
• You will receive a confirmation email from the Stabilization Fund within 1-2 business days of submitting your application.

Our team is continually reviewing requests.  When your application is being reviewed, your program’s Technical Assistant (TA) will contact you regarding any clarification and/or documentation that is needed.  If you respond within 2 weeks and work with the TA to complete anything that remains unclear in your application, you can expect to receive the funds within 60 days of when the application was submitted.

Payments related to Round 1 applications are able to be made for expenses that have been incurred since April 2021 and/or will be incurred through September 2021. As a reminder, for any recurring expenses, programs are able to submit the request once and indicate that the expense will be recurring through December.

Yes, you must be a licensed childcare provider and you must indicate that you are open and available to provide childcare services or closed due public health, financial hardship, or other reasons related to the COVID–19 public health emergency.

“Premium Pay” is additional wages paid during the COVID-19 pandemic to childcare staff. These additional wages can be up to $13 per hour above their regular hourly rate. No staff person can receive premium pay greater than $25,000. When facilities issue bonus pay or hazard pay, this extra pay must meet the criteria of Premium Pay ($13 dollars or less per hour above their regular hourly rate and no more than $25000 for any staff person).

Minor repair and remodeling are particularly important to meet healthy and safety standards in response to COVID-19 safety practices. For example, the following activities have been considered minor renovations in different states and are applicable to implementation in centers and in family child care homes:

• Installing new HVAC to improve ventilation
• Installing smoke detectors, a sprinkler system, or other fire warning device
• Installing secure storage for hazardous materials
• Remediating lead paint and/or lead pipes
• Improving food preparation areas
• Installing room dividers
• Improving internal play space
• Installing age-appropriate plumbing, such as child-sized toilets and sinks
• Purchasing materials and play equipment to improve outdoor spaces
• Install plexi-glass barriers to a program entrance
• Expand outdoor play and gathering spaces

Major Renovations will NOT be covered.  These include the following:

The funds cannot be used for major renovations or the purchase or improvement of land. Major renovation is defined as: (1) structural changes to the foundation, roof, floor, exterior or load-bearing walls of a facility, or the extension of a facility to increase its floor area; or (2) extensive alteration of a facility such as to significantly change its function and purpose, even if such renovation does not include any structural change.

Construction, the erection of a facility that does not currently exist, will not be covered.

Your application will save the page you’re on once you click the “Next” button.  You will be able to return to that application and continue from where you left off for a week from when you initially began the application. After that, you will need to start over again.

The maximum allowed for a bonus would need to follow the same guidance as the Premium Pay, which is $25,000 per person.

“Premium Pay” is additional wages paid during the COVID-19 pandemic to child care staff.

These additional wages can be up to $13 per hour above their regular hourly rate. No staff

person can receive premium pay greater than $25,000. When facilities issue bonus pay or

hazard pay, this extra pay must meet the criteria of Premium Pay ($13 dollars or less per hour

and no more than $25000 for any staff person).

Any money you receive from this grant is taxable income. We advise providers to consult with your financial/tax professional as to taxes and deductions.